Best Banana Bars
User Reviews
5
Best Banana Bars
Description
The Best Banana Bars recipe starts with a mix of softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar creamed until fluffy, then combined with eggs and vanilla. Ripe mashed bananas mixed with a touch of lemon juice and buttermilk add moisture and tang. Dry ingredients including flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt are gently folded in. Baking at a low temperature of 275°F for over an hour ensures a moist, tender crumb throughout. The bars are finished with a brown butter frosting, which requires careful browning of butter to develop a nutty flavor before mixing with cream cheese and powdered sugar. Cooling the bars before frosting helps keep moisture locked in. These bars can be frozen, maintaining their moist texture for months, making them convenient for make-ahead treats.
Ingredients
Banana Bars:
- 3/4 cup or 12 Tablespoons butter softened
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 banana mashed, ripe
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice optional, fresh
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Brown Butter Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter
- (1) ounce pkg. cream cheese (softened)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees. This is definitely a low temperature but it is what helps to keep the banana cake extra moist.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar for 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing in between. Stir in vanilla.
- In a small bowl, mash bananas with lemon juice. Add bananas to bowl and mix well. Stir in buttermilk.
- Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan.
- Bake for 70-75 minutes or until baked in the middle. Let cool at room temperature or place in freezer for 45 minutes to 1 hour to keep moist (put oven mitts underneath pan).
Brown Butter Frosting:
- Start by browning the butter in a saucepan by melting the butter and allowing it to turn into a light golden brown color. Do not overcook the butter or it can burn. Remove the brown butter from the heat and place it in a mixing bowl.
- Once the butter cooled for about 20 minutes, add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla, and beat until light and fluffy. Frost the chilled banana bars with the brown butter cream cheese frosting.
- Store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to serve. Cut into bars and serve.
Notes
- Use 3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) of softened butter for the batter as specified.
- These banana bars freeze well when placed in a freezer-safe container; they remain moist for several months.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 308 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 308kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 50g | 17% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 51mg | 17% |
| Sodium | 199mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 121mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 36g | 72% |
| Vitamin A | 371IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 36mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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